Union registered for pilots from all airlines

Pilots across all airlines have decided to form an association, named Alpha India.

We have formed an umbrella union and all the (pilots) unions across all the airlines have shown interest in joining it,” said a pilot, who did not want to be identified. The association has been registered and the process to induct members across the country is to start next week, he added.

“We have not come together to call strikes or disrupt services. All of us decided to come together to discuss our issues at a bigger forum and this is a global practice,” said the pilot.

Sources said pilots of two unions from Air India, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association and the Indian Pilots Guild, and associations from Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, would be joining.

“Globally, pilots, cabin crew and all employees have unions and associations giving them a platform to communicate. The airline boards must communicate more with the staff members and the airline boards should get involved in that,” said the India head of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Kapil Kaul.

Another Mumbai-based analyst, who did not want to be identified, said: “It may look good now but will be appreciated only if the pilots do not misuse their strength to pressurise the management.”

Among Indian air carriers, only Air India has a recognised pilots’ union. Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines each have a pilots association, but these are not unions formally registered under the relevant law, with the attendant rights. A recent attempt by Jet Airways’ pilots to form a union was reportedly resisted by the management, leading to a strike by the pilots.

Also, after the Jet pilots’ strike, the government was known to be seriously considering amending the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, to exclude airline pilots and commanders in charge from the definition of ‘workmen’, making it illegal for them to form trade unions and go on strike.